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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: miggy on February 27, 2017, 02:34:26 AM

Title: Amiga External Flicker Fixer on Amiga 4000?
Post by: miggy on February 27, 2017, 02:34:26 AM
Hi all,

Just a quick query.  I own an Amiga flicker fixer that use to be sold by Amigakit (http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=414).

I have tried this on a number of Amiga 4000 computers but it does not seem to work.  It does not produce a picture.  Yet on the product information it states that it will work on a 4000 model.

Has anyone else experienced this before?
Title: Re: Amiga External Flicker Fixer on Amiga 4000?
Post by: SACC-guy on February 27, 2017, 02:58:28 AM
Did you plug this adapter in while the computer was on??
The amiga 23 pin video is NOT hot plug device.
 
I have used several versions of this type of adapter, still work after all these years.
Maybe try again plug everything together with out power (if you're lucky)...
after a few moments warm up, it might come back up. The one I got from SoftHut took a couple of minutes to sync well.
Title: Re: Amiga External Flicker Fixer on Amiga 4000?
Post by: LoadWB on February 27, 2017, 03:58:26 AM
Looks like the same one I got a good 15 years ago or so.  Has worked on every Amiga I have: 500s, 1000, 1200, 2000, and 4000D.
Title: Re: Amiga External Flicker Fixer on Amiga 4000?
Post by: miggy on February 27, 2017, 05:03:03 AM
Quote from: SACC-guy;822770
Did you plug this adapter in while the computer was on??
The amiga 23 pin video is NOT hot plug device.
 
I have used several versions of this type of adapter, still work after all these years.
Maybe try again plug everything together with out power (if you're lucky)...
after a few moments warm up, it might come back up. The one I got from SoftHut took a couple of minutes to sync well.


Yes it was plugged in whilst computer was OFF.  

I must admit I remember seeing a version of the plug on the internet that was made for the 1200 only but looks the same.  Is it possible that this one is not for the 4000?  I did buy it second-hand.
Title: Re: Amiga External Flicker Fixer on Amiga 4000?
Post by: miggy on February 27, 2017, 05:10:23 AM
I've just plugged it in now and turned machine on.  Both the lights on the flicker fixer are operational with the green (FF-Mode) light flickering.  The message on my LCD is "input not supported."  I will wait a few minutes and see how it goes.  

It usually works straight away with my 1200 even with this LCD.

Thank you for all your input and support so far :) Really much appreciated that we have such a nice community :)
Title: Re: Amiga External Flicker Fixer on Amiga 4000?
Post by: miggy on February 27, 2017, 07:00:27 AM
I can report that I left it on for quite some time but did not show any picture.  Unsure why.
Title: Re: Amiga External Flicker Fixer on Amiga 4000?
Post by: Acill on February 27, 2017, 08:51:47 AM
I have one of these that was branded by Software Hut in the US as the Toastscan. You should have an adjustment screw on the side that needs to be turned. It has super fine threads as well. It will turn a lot of times before reaching one end or the other. I've got to tune mine quite often, but use an Indivision now on all my machines.
Title: Re: Amiga External Flicker Fixer on Amiga 4000?
Post by: zipper on February 27, 2017, 11:08:59 AM
I do have one of the first, still packed into metal case by Eyetech. Changing it from my A500T to my A4000 did require lots of turns with that tuning screw. And when the box warmed it needed some tuning again.
Title: Re: Amiga External Flicker Fixer on Amiga 4000?
Post by: SnkBitten on February 27, 2017, 12:47:51 PM
Quote from: miggy;822775
I've just plugged it in now and turned machine on.  Both the lights on the flicker fixer are operational with the green (FF-Mode) light flickering.  The message on my LCD is "input not supported."  I will wait a few minutes and see how it goes.  

It usually works straight away with my 1200 even with this LCD.

Thank you for all your input and support so far :) Really much appreciated that we have such a nice community :)


It sounds like your monitor is getting a signal it can't sync with so is displaying the "input not supported" meaning the signal coming in is not supported.   If turning the adjustment screw is adjusting the frequency then it may then start to send a signal your monitor can sync with and display an image.
Title: Re: Amiga External Flicker Fixer on Amiga 4000?
Post by: LoadWB on February 27, 2017, 02:09:32 PM
Quote from: miggy;822775
I've just plugged it in now and turned machine on.  Both the lights on the flicker fixer are operational with the green (FF-Mode) light flickering.  The message on my LCD is "input not supported."  I will wait a few minutes and see how it goes.

You could be running into the same problem I ran into the past couple of days with my PIV: the input to the device may already be 31kHz.  Do you know what your 4000's screenmode is?  I also have a Cyberstorm MK III which has a "No 31kHz" setting for bootmenus which apparently does not work.
Title: Re: Amiga External Flicker Fixer on Amiga 4000?
Post by: Crumb on February 27, 2017, 03:58:41 PM
Your monitor should accept 50Hz
Title: Re: Amiga External Flicker Fixer on Amiga 4000?
Post by: psxphill on February 27, 2017, 04:15:54 PM
Quote from: Crumb;822789
Your monitor should accept 50Hz


If it's PAL, if it's NTSC then it will need to do 60khz (technically it's 59.something)
Title: Re: Amiga External Flicker Fixer on Amiga 4000?
Post by: tone007 on February 27, 2017, 05:15:26 PM
Make sure your 4000 isn't booting up into a Multisync (31.5KHz) mode.  The scandoubler might not like that.


edit: like LoadWB said..
Title: Re: Amiga External Flicker Fixer on Amiga 4000?
Post by: zipper on February 27, 2017, 06:48:21 PM
"Screen modes with higher horizontal frequencies such as DblPAL or Multiscan Productivity are passed to the monitor unchanged"
Title: Re: Amiga External Flicker Fixer on Amiga 4000?
Post by: Acill on February 27, 2017, 07:49:41 PM
Quote from: zipper;822782
I do have one of the first, still packed into metal case by Eyetech. Changing it from my A500T to my A4000 did require lots of turns with that tuning screw. And when the box warmed it needed some tuning again.


This is also my experience with it.
Title: Re: Amiga External Flicker Fixer on Amiga 4000?
Post by: SACC-guy on February 27, 2017, 09:18:11 PM
Quote from: miggy;822775
I've just plugged it in now and turned machine on.  Both the lights on the flicker fixer are operational with the green (FF-Mode) light flickering.  The message on my LCD is "input not supported."  I will wait a few minutes and see how it goes.  

It usually works straight away with my 1200 even with this LCD.

Thank you for all your input and support so far :) Really much appreciated that we have such a nice community :)
Do you have a vga (not lcd) monitor to test it on?
Title: Re: Amiga External Flicker Fixer on Amiga 4000?
Post by: miggy on February 28, 2017, 09:34:28 PM
Thank you all again for your help and input :)

I do not have a VGA monitor at the moment to test it on.  I remember I use to own quite a few and some of them did not work on the A4000.  And these are the Commodore branded one's.  As I recall there may have been only a few models that work with the 4000?

I have given it some turns but it only says (FF-Mode) and (Bypass) on the unit so I didn't think that turning it will cause a picture to appear, rather an adjustment to an already existing picture.  Also I have turned it quite a number of times and it appears to keep turning reaching no end.

I am just booting it up without the hard drive connected so it should just be going to the bootup purple screen.  It's a PAL model.

Thanks everyone again, there are some really switched on people here!
Title: Re: Amiga External Flicker Fixer on Amiga 4000?
Post by: SACC-guy on February 28, 2017, 11:49:04 PM
BTW, any vga monitor can be used... that's the 31mhz
and watch for the setting of screenmode. Just boot with no startup-sequence.

for sure This is the type of thing a local users group can really be helpful with.
I'm sure it can be tested there.

you are welcome to SACC if you are in the area!
Title: Re: Amiga External Flicker Fixer on Amiga 4000?
Post by: miggy on March 01, 2017, 12:09:03 AM
When you suggest boot with no startup sequence are you just referring to booting to the usual startup purple screen with the floppy disk?

Thanks for inviting me along, I'm actually in Australia :)
Title: Re: Amiga External Flicker Fixer on Amiga 4000?
Post by: SACC-guy on March 01, 2017, 12:19:45 AM
Quote from: miggy;822850
When you suggest boot with no startup sequence are you just referring to booting to the usual startup purple screen with the floppy disk?

Thanks for inviting me along, I'm actually in Australia :)
Wait! can you see the load workbench screen with the f/f scan doubler attached?

Does this mean your 4000 has no hard drive?

BTW, it is possible you have a flicker fixer only and not a scan doubler (15 to 31)
Title: Re: Amiga External Flicker Fixer on Amiga 4000?
Post by: miggy on March 01, 2017, 12:24:13 AM
No I can't SACC-guy, the screen is just blank - the 4000 has a hard-drive but I did not plug it in just so I  could see whether boot screen shows up.  From memory this hard-drive does not work anyway.

Maybe I do have a flicker fixer only?  I do not know actually but it seems to work well on all other amiga models.
Title: Re: Amiga External Flicker Fixer on Amiga 4000?
Post by: SACC-guy on March 01, 2017, 12:29:45 AM
There were two types of rgb boxes..
The just flicker fixer and the flicker fixer with scan doubler.

The amiga rgb outputs a 15mhz which was what the amiga monitor uses.
later, we got vga (31mhz) and we needed scan doublers to get there.

there are lcd's which accept both levels, as well as some amiga monitors.
If this box is working with the 1200 (?) the box is ok

We might need to look at the 4000 at the problem???
Title: Re: Amiga External Flicker Fixer on Amiga 4000?
Post by: miggy on March 01, 2017, 12:33:25 AM
Yes it works on the 1200.

Again, I think maybe I need to keep moving that adjustment screw and see.  The screw unit just needs some soldering work as it is held with some electrical tape.  So it is hard to keep adjusting it.

The 4000 has worked with an old school monitor.  I have also tried this flicker fixer unit on other 4000's and still it does not work.
Title: Re: Amiga External Flicker Fixer on Amiga 4000?
Post by: miggy on March 01, 2017, 12:40:40 AM
I have attached a pic of the unit.  Is it a scandoubler also?
Title: Re: Amiga External Flicker Fixer on Amiga 4000?
Post by: SACC-guy on March 01, 2017, 12:48:08 AM
Quote from: miggy;822858
I have attached a pic of the unit.  Is it a scandoubler also?
Yes it look like the pics at:
http://amiga.resource.cx/search.pl?id=toastscan